I've Still Got Two Years...

The Man Booker Prize was announced today in London, and the winner is (drum roll please) Aravind Adiga for his novel The White Tiger. It is his debut novel, and he was also the youngest author on the shortlist at 33 years old. The book sounds fascinating; it's the story of the two Indias - the rural poor in contrast to the booming economy that we're all hearing about. Yet another book on the list to read - does it never end?

It's Giller Time!

The Giller Prize short list was announced today, and it looks like an interesting list this time around. I curious especially about Marina Endicott's novel, Good to a Fault. I've got a fond spot for the Giller - a pretty good sum of money, and it spotlights some great Canadian fiction. Maybe one day I'll be shortlisted? Sigh. A girl can dream right?

J'Adore - Spiralling

I am so looking forward to the Keane album, Perfect Symmetry - I've already pre-ordered my copy! I'm just loving the new single "Spiralling" - it's a departure for them - a real pop-y tune - but Tom Chaplin's vocals are rock solid, as usual.

More Sad News

Between the stock market tanking and banks folding, I must confess to feeling pretty sad about this item in the Times. I was just a kid when The Satanic Verses came out - and I haven't read it, but I do remember seeing protests and hearing about the fatwa put out on Salman Rushdie. This kind of story really angers me. I'm just glad that the publisher is remaining strong in the face of this intimidation. Standing up to bullies is really the only way to go.

Sad Sad News

I was just thinking about Paul Newman yesterday; while watching The Torn Curtain, with Paul Newman and Julie Andrews, I wondered about his battle with cancer and how he was doing. He was the most handsome physicist I've ever seen! Anyway, I was so sad to hear this morning that he's passed away. He was a great actor, and a real humanitarian - he didn't do his good deeds just for show. Among his many roles, my personal favourite performance was in Cool Hand Luke, although Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a close second. He will be sorely missed!

J'Adore

I've always loved Tracey Thorn, and I came upon a version of "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" by Massive Attack - who I also adore. Maybe it's just the head space that I'm in, but I can't stop listening to it. Enjoy the video.

Swedes Do It Better

Ikea products might be shoddily put together and the Swedish "meat"balls may be made of mystery meat, but those Swedes seem to have gotten something thing right (beyond ABBA, Greta Garbo, and Stefan Edberg). When Sweden had a similar financial crisis to the one facing Wall Street in the 90s, they managed to come to a solution that doesn't involve sticking it to tax payers. Why Bo Lundgren, Sweden's financial minister during the 1992 crisis (left), must be a some kind of genius! Why none of these solutions are being seriously entertained in Washington is beyond me. Don't even get me started.

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